Late win in Tigerland just what the doctor ordered

By Chris Stewart

(Baton Rouge, LA) - It had been five years since Rod Grizzard leaped upon the media table at the PeteMaravichAssemblyCenter to celebrate an Alabama basketball win over LSU. That was the last time the Crimson Tide had celebrated a victory at all over the Tigers in Baton Rouge.

Until Wednesday night.

Jermareo Davidson's put back slam at the buzzer was the perfect exclamation point on another gutty effort from Mark Gottfried's squad. The senior from Atlanta not only put the Tide on his back with a 31-point effort, he may have set a new course for the season in leading the way during Bama's 73-70 victory.

Davidson's trials this season have been well recorded. However, enough can not be said about the job he did last night to insure the Tide did not fall to the bottom of the SEC Western Division. His scoring effort was impressive enough, but the manner in which he arrived at the number is what stood out to me.

The ability to drive to the basket from the high post, score directly from the low post, and hit the mid-range jumper, kept LSU defenders from isolating on one single area of Davidson's game. With the game on the line, the Tigers knew he would get the ball - they just didn't know where or what he would do with it. It was a drive to the basket, a foul, and two free throws that gave Alabama it's first lead with :45 to play. It was a lead the Tide would not relinquish.

Davidson got a lot of help, too.

Richard Hendrix was equally efficient. The sophomore was 6-of-8 from the field, had 13 points, and distracted Glen Davis enough that he couldn't help much on Davidson defensively.

Mykal Riley bounced out of a recent slump, hit a pair of treys in succession that drew the Tide within a bucket, and added a defensive presence that had also been lacking.

Alonzo Gee was oh-so-close on several steal attempts, and finally got one in the last :30 of play. His clutch free throws kept the Tide out of reach. Brandon Hollinger and Justin Tubbs each had just three points, but both provided their buckets at key moments.

Demetrius Jemison occupied Davis on the defensive end for 12 minutes, allowing Hendrix and Davidson to get much-needed breathers.

Perhaps the most amazing aspect of Alabama's victory was the fact it occurred with Ronald Steele failing to make a shot all night. The preseason All-American was 0-5 from the field, had three turnovers, and just two assists. Yet, somehow, the Tide came from behind to win.

Don't let Steele's lack of production in the box score fool you, though. His calming presence was needed throughout - especially with Bama playing from behind the majority of the game.

What's next? South Carolina.

What will happen? I have no idea.

I just know the flight back from Baton Rouge, as bumpy as it may have been due to the weather, was the most pleasant trip this team has enjoyed in awhile. Hopefully, it will be something to build on - rather than a one-time event.
 

Chris Stewart writes a weekly column for bamafever.com. Stewart is the radio play-by-play announcer for University of Alabama men's basketball. He is also the pre and post game host for the Crimson Tide Sports Network's coverage of Alabama Football. In addition, he hosts a talk show each weekday morning from 7 until 9 on Tuscaloosa's Sports Radio 1420, The Tusk. Bama Fever is a company devoted to providing University of Alabama Crimson Tide merchandise. We have stores in Birmingham, Tuscaloosa  and Huntsville and have now created an online catalog for Crimson Tide fans all over the world searching for that hard to find merchandise. We carry over 7,000 items in our stores and have posted many of these items right here in our online catalog.

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